The schedule has been modified. Additionally, the team composition has altered. One of the premier dog sledding competitions globally, the Avannaata Qimussersua, won’t take place this year. Instead, there will be as many as
three Vances
, not two—one is the vice president of the United States.
Dealing with unexpected visitors isn’t always simple or straightforward. Just ask.
Danish and Greenlandic officials
They warmly received the U.S. choice to change this week’s scheduled trip to their Arctic region, which they stated was undesired and unnecessary. The original plan suggested a chilly welcome might be forthcoming.
President Donald Trump
‘S promise to manage Greenland.
“It’s quite positive that the Americans have canceled,” said Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen on Wednesday.
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Usha Vance, wife of
Vice President JD Vance
, and one of her sons was scheduled to arrive at the Danish territory on Thursday to explore cultural and historical landmarks until Saturday. The president of the sled dog racing association invited her to waved a flag for the opening ceremony of the yearly dogsled competition over ice and snow, known as “The Grand Northern Run.”
Upgraded and then downgraded
However, amidst statements made by Denmark’s Prime Minister
Mette Frederiksen
Characterized as “unacceptable pressure” on Greenland and with local Greenlandic authorities indignantly describing it as an uninvited journey, this visit has seen shifts in status. It was elevated due to the participation of Vice President Mike Pence’s spouse, making them the highest-ranking members of the Trump administration to travel to the region. However, it was also demoted since the US delegation will now solely tour the US Space Force Base at Pituffik, located in northern Greenland, on Friday instead of participating in activities like the sled dog race or visiting other sites. Accompanying the Vances will be Robert O’Brien, the White House National Security Advisor.
Mike Waltz
And Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
Here’s a summary of Trump’s efforts to acquire Greenland, his reasons for wanting it, the current status of those attempts, and what inviting someone means in this context:
An introduction: What explains Trump’s keen interest in Greenland?
The concept of the U.S. obtaining Greenland emerged during the 1800s under President Andrew Johnson’s administration. Following their recent acquisition of Alaska from Russia, Johnson viewed securing Greenland as an integral step toward broadening American dominance across the North Pole region.
In 2019, during his initial term, Trump initially showed an interest in purchasing Greenland, which holds the title of the planet’s biggest non-continental landmass. This fascination intensified as he embarked on his subsequent presidential tenure. Throughout this period, he has consistently threatened to obtain ownership over Greenland via economic dealings or potentially employing military power.
“Greenland is necessary for both our national security and global stability,” according to Trump.
in a speech before Congress
In March, emphasizing that the territory was “extremely crucial for military security.”
The U.S. has kept a modest missile defense facility in Greenland since World War II, and Trump sought to acquire it.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
to develop a strategy for a U.S. missile defense system inspired by Israel’s
“Iron Dome” system
Situated near the Arctic Circle among the territories of the U.S., Russia, and various European countries, the Pituffik base might be integrated into Donald Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome” defensive network. He sees this system as crucial for safeguarding America against attacks via long-distance missiles.
Undiscovered cobalt, nickel, copper, lithium, and zirconium
It seems there is also an economic motive with significant national security ramifications driving Trump’s fascination with the area. Greenland boasts substantial reserves of unexploited cobalt, nickel, copper, lithium, zirconium, and other rare-earth elements essential for manufacturing batteries, smartphones, electric cars, and various technological and defense equipment. Currently, the majority of these materials come from China to the U.S., but Trump aims to change this situation.
Gaining control of Greenland might provide the U.S. with broader rights to unexplored Arctic petroleum reserves and facilitate greater influence over Arctic sea routes utilized by Russia and China.
“On behalf of President Trump, our aim is to revitalize the safety and security of Greenland’s residents since we believe this plays a crucial role in safeguarding global security as a whole,” stated the U.S. Vice President during his announcement about accompanying the Second Lady on their trip to Pituffik on Friday. He asserted that both American and Danish leadership have “neglected Greenland for an extended period” and expressed the belief that they could steer future efforts toward better outcomes.”
Danish authorities disagree with that notion.
Rasmus Jarlov, a Danish opposition Conservative parliamentarian, mentioned that his nation has consistently shown willingness towards an increased American military presence in Denmark should they desire it. For instance:
1951 agreement
This created a U.S. right to build military installations in Greenland, as long as both Denmark and Greenland are informed. Ulrik Pram Gad, a researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies in Copenhagen, noted that Greenland’s authorities are prepared to collaborate with American firms interested in establishing mines in Greenland to harness natural resources.
Is Trump’s attempt to exert influence over Greenland making headway?
Martin Breum is a Danish journalist and writer with expertise in Greenland and Arctic issues. According to him, numerous individuals in Greenland support the notion of bringing American businesses into the region for investments in sectors like mining, tourism, or fishing. Breum also noted that there isn’t significant hostility towards the U.S. within governmental bodies.
“We shouldn’t assume that the people of Greenland wish to have nothing to do with the U.S.; this idea is far from accurate,” Breum stated during a telephone conversation from Nuuk, Greenland’s capital city, on Wednesday.
“Their main issue is with the prospect of a (Trump) political takeover,” he stated.
Drew Horn serves as the CEO of Greenmet, an American firm aiding in establishing business connections between Greenland’s administration and the White House under President Trump. Horn was involved in arranging the forthcoming trip to the U.S.
In a telephone interview before the change in the U.S. delegation’s schedule, he stated that claims from Danish and Greenlandic authorities suggesting the White House was exerting political pressure on Greenland were “preposterous.”
Horn stated that Mike Waltz serves as the national security advisor and is examining defense options that the Greenlanders previously requested at the base over there. This falls under his jurisdiction and duties, which include meeting with the Space Force leaders there as part of these plans. This isn’t meant as a show of force nor does it exert pressure on the Greenlanders,” he added.
Kuno Fencker, who is part of Greenland’s legislative body, mentioned that numerous individuals on the island are looking for increased business prospects.
“Ideally, we aim to diversify our economy. Our objective includes trading with various entities beyond just Denmark,” he stated during an interview.
Nevertheless, Gad, the researcher, noted that it was evident Trump’s approach of sending a prominent U.S. delegation to Greenland was having an adverse effect since, regardless of his intentions, it appeared to most Greenlandic people as “domination.”
“If this is an effort to engage in gentle diplomacy, it has not succeeded,” stated Gad, who previously held a position with the Greenlandic government in Nuuk before transitioning to full-time academic research.
Each time Trump states, ‘We aim to enrich you,’ he follows up with ‘it will be done regardless of how.’
Regarding the invitation for Greenland: Did one actually exist?
The government of Greenland has made itself quite clear: No formal or informal official invitation was extended to U.S. officials inviting them to visit. They were particularly opposed to any U.S. delegation coming during a period when Greenland is actively engaged in talks aimed at forming new arrangements.
new coalition government
Following an election that took place earlier in March.
However, Trump mentioned there was an invitation. So, what’s the truth then?
Both. Neither. Blame the
dogs
− or their benefactor.
Indeed, the invite for the second lady to join the dogsled race was extended by an individual from America named Tom Dans, who confessed this himself. Dans leads a firm known as American Daybreak, which aims at bolstering relations between the U.S. and Greenland. During his initial tenure, he served under President Trump.
chief for U.S. Arctic Research
.
In a
statement published
Late Tuesday evening, Dans announced via social media that his firm served as both a “sponsor and supporter” for the Avannaata Qimussersua. In this role, he extended an invitation to the Second Lady along with several high-ranking administration members to join them in Greenland to partake in what he described as a distinctive and thrilling cultural occasion. According to Dans, the planned trip was strictly meant to be “a purely personal endeavor reflective of the amicable relations shared by our two countries.”
Nevertheless, Denmark’s leaders and Greenland’s departing prime minister found it difficult to see the visit from that perspective.
Mute Egede told Sermitsiaq in a weekend interview that the reason for the National Security Adviser being in Greenland is solely to showcase dominance over them. He believes that his presence will undoubtedly reinforce Americans’ faith in Trump’s agenda, leading to increased pressure.
Why isn’t there a dogsled race? So, what happens next?
A journey meant to last for three days has been reduced to merely one day, maybe even just a handful of isolated, frigid hours.
The White House did not reply to requests for clarification regarding the removal of the dogsled race scheduled for Saturday in Sisimiut from their schedule or the reason behind condensing the trip into merely one day.
Nevertheless, in recent weeks, there have been demonstrations against Trump’s interest in Greenland, such as one in Nuuk where participants walked by the U.S. consulate while softly singing the island’s national song. An additional protest was scheduled for Saturday during the dog sled race, with plans for the activists to show their disapproval by turning away from the Second Lady.
At least
one U.S. media report
The proposed anti-U.S. protests in Nuuk may have been intimidating enough for the Trump administration to reconsider their visit, aiming to steer clear of potential confrontations with disgruntled Greenlander residents.
Therefore, no dogs, but it seems like a short daytime excursion to the U.S. military installation.
The vice president stated that both he and his spouse plan to visit the Pituffik region where they will get an update on Arctic security matters and interact with U.S. armed forces personnel. It remains unclear if their son is also part of this journey.
Fencker, the legislator, recognized the significance of Vance visiting the Pituffik base but does not believe this trip will enhance trade and tourism. According to Fencker, people in Greenland aren’t well-informed about activities at the site.
Located in northern Greenland, approximately 750 miles away from the North Pole, Pituffik is in a sparsely populated region with minimal presence of both local residents and Greenlandic authorities. According to Breum, a Danish specialist in Arctic matters, it appears improbable that the Vances, Waltz—the presidential advisor for national security, or Wright—the secretary of energy—will come across many inhabitants during their visit.
“Completely cut off from civilized society,” stated Breum.
He observed that on Wednesday morning in Nuuk, two U.S. Hercules military planes departed from Greenland carrying ballistic armor vehicles and security personnel. These assets were part of a White House advance security team that was no longer required.
Additionally,” Breum mentioned about Pituffik, “the temperature will reach 25 degrees below zero Celsius (which is -13 Fahrenheit) on Friday.
Contributing: Bart Jansen
The article initially appeared on USA TODAY:
Why Usha Vance’s Greenland adventure got derailed by a dogsled race across ice and snow
